Educational background: Tufts University, Economics
Prior work experience: Arthur D. Little, Inc., Business Analyst
Current or most recent position: Standard Textile, Co, Inc., Business Strategy Manager
A key element of the MIT Sloan education is the good mix of theory and real-life applications. A case in point is my experience in an excellent class about the Economics of the Healthcare Industry taught by Professor Berndt, whom I knew from my previous consulting experience in the industry. His knowledge is unmatched, and his lectures are terrific. The class was all the more interesting thanks to the guest speakers who talked about the real-life applications of what we were learning in the classroom.
After graduating from MIT Sloan last spring, I took a position as Business Strategy Manager for Standard Textile, a leading manufacturer and distributor of healthcare, hospitality, and institutional textiles. A vertically integrated company, Standard manufactures in 12 countries and distributes its products in over 50 countries. My MIT Sloan education has been critical to my performance as a Strategy Manager. I apply the analytical tools learned in classes like Industrial Econ, DMD, and Finance, and I believe I'm also a better manager thanks to the lessons learned in classes such as Organizational Processes, Leadership Lab, and Communications. MIT Sloan gives you tremendous flexibility in shaping your education. What we learned is truly cutting-edge management science, a very balanced blend of theory and business applications.
I was pregnant during the first year of my MBA studies and became a mother during the second. The community was incredibly supportive. I relied on my friends and teams to continue to make the most out of my education, and my social life continued as intensively as ever. While you might think that my situation was unique, I had several classmates who were also going though pregnancy and early motherhood, proving that, yes, you can do it all at MIT Sloan!
MIT Sloan exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I had the privilege of working as a Teaching Assistant for the Economics course of the core curriculum. This was an incredible opportunity because I got to know and contribute to the Class of 2005 and work closely with exceptional faculty. I learned so much in terms of course content, time management and presentation skills. The job carried a significant responsibility, but the rewards far outweighed the effort.
Perhaps the most important lesson students gain from MIT Sloan was the ability to maintain a healthy balance in all things we do — school, extracurricular activities, recruiting, family and friends. I am happy to say I continue to achieve such balance.
© 2013 MIT SLOAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT